Method of operating an enteral feeding pump

ABSTRACT

A feeding set for use with a peristaltic enteral feeding pump to deliver nutritional liquid fluid to a patient includes a container having nutritional liquid. A conduit assembly includes tubing placeable in fluid communication with the container and adapted for mounting on the enteral feeding pump. The tubing provides a fluid pathway for delivering the nutritional liquid from the container to a patient when the tubing is mounted on the enteral feeding pump. An identification member is mounted on the conduit assembly and has at least one characteristic of a nutritional liquid associated with the feeding set represented by the identification member. The identification member is positioned on the conduit assembly so as to permit automatic identification by the enteral feeding pump of the at least one characteristic of the nutritional liquid upon mounting the conduit assembly on the enteral feeding pump.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/805,895, filed on Nov. 7, 2017, which is aDivisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/494,993,filed on Sep. 24, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 61/881,590, filed on Sep. 24, 2013. The disclosures of theprior applications are incorporated in their entirety herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to pumps used to deliver fluids topatients by way of a pump set, and more particularly to use of anidentification member with an enteral feeding pump to provide a pumpoperating profile based on the information in the identification member.

BACKGROUND

Administering fluids to a patient via a patient's nose, mouth, orabdomen is known. Fluids can be delivered to the patient by gravity flowor at a controlled rate of delivery by utilizing a flow controlapparatus, such as a peristaltic pump through a feeding set. The feedingapparatus for administering fluids to the patient typically has ahousing that includes at least one motor operatively coupled to amechanism that is engaged with a feeding set by progressivelycompressing a tubing of the feeding set to drive the fluid through thetubing at the controlled rate. In typical rotary peristaltic pumps, themotor is connected to a shaft that rotatably drives a pump rotor. Therotating pump rotor engages the tubing of the feeding set, pinching offa portion of the tubing and pushing the feeding fluid forward from thepinch point, toward the patient. In this manner, a peristaltic actionthat is created by the rotation of the rotor drives fluid through thetubing. Such enteral feeding pumps deliver feeding fluids of differingformulation, each of which may have differing characteristics, such asviscosity, nutritional value, caloric content, and othercharacteristics, which may result in variations in flow behavior.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present invention generally relate to an enteral feedingsystem used to deliver enteral fluids to a patient and, particularly, toa feeding set for use in the feeding system having a representationregarding nutritional liquid associated with the feeding set.

In a first aspect, a feeding set for use with an enteral feeding pump todeliver nutritional liquid fluid to a patient generally comprises acontainer having nutritional liquid. A conduit assembly includes tubingplaceable in fluid communication with the container and adapted formounting on the enteral feeding pump. The tubing provides a fluidpathway for delivering the nutritional liquid from the container to apatient when the tubing is mounted on the enteral feeding pump. Anidentification member is mounted on the conduit assembly and has atleast one characteristic of a nutritional liquid associated with thefeeding set represented by the identification member. The identificationmember is positioned on the conduit assembly to permit automaticidentification by the enteral feeding pump of the at least onecharacteristic of the nutritional liquid upon mounting the conduitassembly on the enteral feeding pump.

In said first aspect, the conduit assembly may include a cassetteconnected to the tubing.

In said first aspect, the identification member can be mounted on thecassette.

In said first aspect, the identification member can comprise one or moremagnets arranged to represent the nutritional liquid in the container.

In said first aspect, the at least one characteristic can comprise thenutritional liquid type.

In said first aspect, the at least one characteristic can comprise aviscosity of the nutritional liquid.

In said first aspect, the at least one characteristic can comprise acaloric content of the nutritional liquid.

In said first aspect, a family of nutritional liquids associated withthe feeding set can be represented by the identification member.

In said first aspect in combination with the enteral feeding pump, theenteral feeding pump can include a reader for reading the identificationmember to identify, which can be automatic, the at least onecharacteristic of the nutritional liquid associated with the feeding setupon mounting the conduit assembly on the enteral feeding pump.

In said first aspect, the enteral feeding pump can determine, which canbe automatic, a flow rate for delivering fluid through the tubing basedon the at least one characteristic of the nutritional liquid identifiedby the enteral feeding pump upon mounting the conduit assembly on theenteral feeding pump.

In said first aspect, the enteral feeding pump can automaticallyinitiate a compliance operation whereby the apparatus monitors a volumeof fluid and a number of calories delivered to the patient through thetubing upon mounting the conduit assembly on the enteral feeding pump.

In a second aspect, an enteral feeding pump for use with a nutritionalliquid feeding set to deliver nutritional liquid through the feeding setgenerally comprises a housing capable of receiving at least a portion ofthe feeding set. A pumping device can be mounted in the housing andconfigured to act on the feeding set to produce fluid flow in thefeeding set when the feeding set is received by the housing. A processorcan be operatively connected to the pumping device. A reader can beoperatively connected to the processor and can be configured to read thefeeding set to facilitate identification of at least one characteristicof the nutritional liquid associated with the feeding set uponengagement of the feeding set with the housing. The processor can beprogrammed to automatically identify the at least one characteristicupon engagement of the feeding set with the housing.

In said second aspect, the processor can be programmed to select anddisplay a library subset from a library of nutritional liquids stored inmemory of the pump. The library subset can be associated with thefeeding set engaged with the housing.

In said second aspect, the processor can be programmed to automaticallydetermine a flow rate for delivering fluid through the feeding set basedon the identified at least one characteristic of the nutritional liquidassociated with the feeding set upon engagement of the feeding set withthe housing.

In said second aspect, the processor can be programmed to initiate,automatically, a compliance operation whereby the pump monitors a volumeof fluid and a number of calories delivered to the patient through thefeeding set upon engagement of the feeding set with the housing.

In a further aspect, a method of providing an enteral feeding pump foruse with a nutritional liquid feeding set configured to delivernutritional liquid from a container through the feeding set comprisesmounting a pumping device onto a housing of the pump, the pumping deviceconfigured to act on the feeding set to produce fluid flow in thefeeding set during operation thereof; disposing a reader on the housing,the reader configured to read the feeding set to identify at least onecharacteristic of the nutritional liquid associated with the feedingset; and operatively connecting a processor to the reader, wherein theprocessor is configured to identify the at least one characteristic uponoperational engagement of the feeding set with the housing.

In said further aspect, the method can further comprise providing thefeeding set, wherein the feeding set comprises an identification memberand tubing in fluid communication with the container, wherein theidentification member is associated with the nutritional liquid in thecontainer.

In said further aspect, the at least one characteristic can comprise atleast one of a viscosity of the nutritional liquid and a caloric contentof the nutritional liquid.

In said further aspect, a family of nutritional liquids associated withthe feeding set is represented by the identification member.

In said further aspect, the method can further comprise operablyconnecting a memory to the processor, the memory configurable to includethe at least one characteristic of the nutritional liquid to beassociated with the feeding set.

In said further aspect, the method can further comprise providinginstructions on non-transitory memory that are executable by theprocessor, the instructions comprising identifying the at least onecharacteristic of the nutritional liquid associated with the feeding setbased on a representation from an identification member on the feedingset; and operating the pump at a flow rate to achieve a target feedingrate based on the at least one characteristic.

In a still further aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium isdisclosed. The computer-readable medium includes computer-executableinstructions for a method of operating a feeding pump with a feeding sethaving tubing fluidly connected to a container for containing anutritional liquid to be delivered to a patient when the feeding set isoperably mounted on the feeding pump, the feeding set further comprisingan identification member readable by a reader on the feeding pump,wherein the identification member provides a representation ofnutritional liquid. The method comprises identifying at least onecharacteristic of the nutritional liquid associated with the feeding setbased on a representation from the identification member on the feedingset; and operating the pump at a flow rate to achieve a target feedingrate based on the at least one characteristic. In such still furtheraspect, the method can further comprise associating the representationfrom the identification member to one or more nutritional liquids in alibrary stored in a memory in the pump and identify the at least onecharacteristic of the nutritional liquid.

Other features will be in part apparent and in part pointed outhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present invention generally relate to an enteral feedingsystem used to deliver enteral fluids to a patient and, particularly, toa feeding set for use in the feeding system that represents anutritional liquid associated with the feeding set.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a perspective view of anenteral feeding pump and a fragmentary portion of a feeding set receivedon the pump, in accordance with one or more aspects disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 is schematic illustration showing the pump and feeding set ofFIG. 1, with a cassette housing of the feeding set removed;

FIG. 3 is schematic illustration showing the pump of FIG. 1, with thefeeding set removed;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the feeding setloaded on the pump;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an embodiment of a mounting member andidentification members of the feeding set and further illustrating arelated reader device; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a software subsystem illustrating a processused to detect and identify a formula associated with a feeding setadapted to be loaded to a feeding pump, which may be implemented inaccordance with one or more aspects disclosed herein.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the exemplary embodiment schematically illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, an enteral feeding pump is generally indicated at 1. The pump1 may comprise a housing 3 that is constructed to allow a feeding set 5to be mounted to the housing. Optionally, the housing 3 may comprise arecess 7 (FIG. 3) for receiving a cassette 9 of the feeding set 5 toload the feeding set on the pump. The feeding set 5 can comprise tubingindicated generally at 11 that provides a fluidic pathway between a bag12 of nutritional liquid (broadly, “a container”) and a patient (FIG.1). The bag 12 is shown schematically in FIG. 1. The cassette 9 mayfacilitate mounting the tubing 11 for engaging the tubing with the pump1 when received in the recess 7. The cassette 9 and feeding set 5 may bebroadly considered a conduit assembly.

The feeding set 5 may comprise a mounting member 13 (FIG. 2) in directcommunication with the tubing 11 and one or more identification members15 on the mounting member. At least one identification member 15 maypermit identification of at least one characteristic of a nutritionalliquid associated with the feeding set upon engagement of the mountingmember 13 to the pump 1. The mounting member 13 may also assist in theloading of the feeding set 5 on the pump 1. However, the mounting member13 may be omitted and the identification member(s) 15 may be used toload the feeding set 5 to the pump 1. The pump 1 may further include areader 17 (FIGS. 4 and 5) that detects engagement of at least one of themounting member 13 and the identification member(s) 15 with the pump.

Depending on the desired feeding regime, feeding sets of differentconstructions can be used with the pump 1. An effective flow rate forthe pump 1 can depend on a resistance of the tubing of the feeding setand the fluid being delivered through the feeding set. The pump 1 can beconfigured to recognize automatically the type of feeding set installedand a nutritional liquid associated with the feeding set, and alter ortailor operation of the pump to accommodate the characteristics of thefeeding set and nutritional liquid. In particular, a flow rate fordelivering fluid associated with the loaded feeding set 5 can beautomatically customized by retrieving identification information ordata represented by the identification member 15 indicating at least oneof the type of feeding set, the associated nutritional liquid, and/orcharacteristics of the nutritional liquid pertaining to delivering theliquid through the feeding set. Such technical feature canadvantageously effect delivery of the nutritional liquid to the patientby reducing the likelihood against an inappropriate or erroneousdelivery protocol. For example, a feeding set having an identificationmember can provide a representation of the nutritional liquid in thecontainer connected thereto to the pump which in turn can automaticallydeliver the nutritional liquid according to a predetermined protocol orschedule, which reduces the likelihood of erroneously delivering thenutritional liquid at a different delivery protocol or schedule.

As used herein, the term “load” means that the tubing 11 is engaged withthe pump 1 so that the feeding set 5 is ready for operation with thepump to deliver fluid to a patient. It will be appreciated that the term“housing,” as used herein, may include many forms of supportingstructures including, without limitation, multi-part structures andstructures that do not enclose or house the working components of thepump 1.

The pump 1 may include a user interface 19 with a display screenindicated at 21 on the front of the housing 3 that is capable ofdisplaying information about the status and operation of the pump. Thepump 1 can further comprise buttons 23 and light emitting diodes 25 onthe housing 3 for use with the display screen 21 to facilitateexchanging information, such as providing and obtaining information,between the pump 1 and a user. Various user interfaces for displayinginformation to the user and receiving user input may be implemented. Anyof the various configurations of the user interface can involveutilizing one or more graphical display subcomponents. As an example,the display screen 21 may be a graphical user interface having a touchscreen by which the user can provide the input information. In otherembodiments, the user interface can be a tethered component that can beused to provide input information, provide operating informationpertaining to the flow control apparatus, or both.

Referring to FIGS, 2-4, the pump 1 may include a pump motor 27 (FIG. 4)located in the housing 3. A pump rotor 29 may be mounted on a rotatableshaft 31 and rotated by the motor 27. In one embodiment, the pump rotor29 includes an inner disk 39, an outer disk 41, and preferably aplurality of rollers 43 mounted between the inner and outer disksrotatable about their longitudinal axes relative to the disks. In theexemplarily illustrated embodiment, the pump motor 27, rotatable shaft31 and pump rotor 29 may broadly be considered a pumping device. Therollers 43 may engage the feeding set 5 for moving fluid through thefeeding set.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the mounting member 13 is configured toengage mount 45 of the pump 1 when loading the feeding set 5 on the pumpsuch that the reader 17 may detect the presence of the identificationmember 15 attached to the mounting member 13. The reader 17 may bedisposed on, in, or near the mount 45 to detect the presence of theidentification member 15. In the illustrated embodiment, identificationmember 15 comprises a first identification component 15A and a secondidentification component 15B. Any number of identification components isenvisioned. The reader 17 may comprise a pair of reader devices 17A, 17Bthat detect the identification components 15A, 15B, respectively. Itwill be understood that the number of reader devices 17 may be the sameas the number of identification components 15. The identificationcomponents 15A, 15B may be magnetic components or, in the alternative,magnetically susceptible metallic components capable of detection byreader devices 17A, 17B, respectively without requiring direct physicalcontact with the reader. The reader devices 17A, 17B may preferably beHall-effect sensors or other types of proximity sensors that arepositioned near the mount 45 such that the reader devices 17A, 17B candetect the presence of the identification components 15A, 15B when themounting member 13 is engaged to the mount or at least the magneticfield of any of the one or more identification components. Other typesof readers may be used. For example, the readers may rely on opticallyidentifying any of the one or more identification components. Theidentification member 15 can be mounted directly on the cassette 9 andthe reader 17 can be positioned to detect the presence of theidentification member on the cassette when the cassette is received inthe recess 7 of the pump 1.

Upon engagement of the mounting member 13 to the mount 45, readerdevices 17A, 17B may be capable of identifying identification datarepresented by the number and position of the identification components15A, 15B. In particular, the attachment of one or more identificationcomponents 15A, 15B to the mounting member 13 provides a means forallowing software subsystem 47 (FIG. 4) to identify information relatedto a nutritional liquid associated with the feeding set 5 loaded on thepump 1. Referring to FIG. 5, the mounting member 11 may have one or moreidentification components 15A, 15B (two are shown in FIG. 5) attachedthereto in accordance with an identification scheme that permitssoftware subsystem 47 to identify at least one characteristic of thenutritional liquid associated with the feeding set 5 loaded on the pump1. In order to identify the at least one characteristic of thenutritional liquid, a processor such as microprocessor 49 may beoperatively associated with memory 51 containing one or moreidentification schemes for identifying different characteristics of thenutritional liquid. The memory 51 may also contain a library ofnutritional liquids associated with various types of cassettes andfeeding sets for use with the pump 1. The identification scheme mayinvolve utilizing the relative positional interaction of any or all thereaders as identifiably associated with a corresponding identificationcomponent. Thus, for example, in a reader assembly having an arrangementof two reader components, if a first reader component proximally detectsthe presence of an appropriate first identification component and asecond reader component proximally detects the presence of anappropriate second identification component, the identification memberprovides a first representation of a first nutritional liquid, or familyof nutritional liquids. Further, if the first reader componentproximally detects the presence of an appropriate first identificationcomponent and the second reader component fails to detect the proximalpresence of an appropriate second identification component, theidentification member provides a representation of a differentnutritional liquid, or family of nutritional liquids. Accordingly, theprocessor can thus associate the corresponding nutritional liquidthrough the respective representation from corresponding identificationmember to at least one characteristic of the liquid. The reader may beimplemented with three or more components.

The at least one characteristic may include at least any one or more ofa brand or brand name of the nutritional liquid to be delivered throughthe feeding set 5, and may include at least one or more data associatedparameters such as but not limited to nutritional liquid type, caloricintake requirement, fat intake requirement, protein intake requirement,mineral intake requirement, vitamin intake requirement, and a patientgroup associated with the nutritional liquid. The at least onecharacteristic may also include at least one data parameter pertainingto at least one of a viscosity, an osmolality, a digestibility, acaloric content, a protein content, a sugar content, a fat content,fiber content, a free water content, a carbohydrate content, acholesterol content, an amino acid content, a vitamin content, a mineralcontent, a nitrogen content, a sodium content, a potassium content, achloride content, a calcium content, a magnesium content, an electrolytecontent, and a nutritional requirement of the nutritional liquid.

The at least one characteristic may also include a family of nutritionalliquids associated with the feeding set 5. The family of nutritionalliquids may be a subset of nutritional liquids within the library ofnutritional liquids stored in the memory 51, such as nutritional liquidsavailable from a particular provider. By representing a characteristicof the nutritional liquid associated with the feeding set 5 with thenumber and position of the identification components 15A, 15B, the useris not required to scroll through a large database of formulas. Instead,the subset of the full library of formulas is displayed on the displayscreen 21 from which the user may select the nutritional liquid thatwill be delivered.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sequence of steps software subsystem 47 may executethrough microprocessor 49 to recognize and incorporate the at least onecharacteristic of the nutritional liquid associated with the feeding set5 loaded to the pump 1. At decision point 318, software subsystem 47 maydetermine whether a feeding set 5 is loaded to the pump 1 by detectingengagement of the mounting member 13 to the pump. In particular, themicroprocessor 49 may monitor a signal from the reader devices 17A, 17Bindicating identification components 15A, 15B are engaged to the pump 1.If the feeding set 5 is not loaded, then the pump 1 remains inoperative,at step 320. However, if the feeding set 5 is loaded to the pump 1, at324 the microprocessor 49 may determine the at least one characteristicof the nutritional liquid associated with the feeding set 5 by detectingthe location and number of identification components 15 detected by thereader 17. Each different characteristic may have a predetermined numberand location of identification components attached to the mountingmember 13.

For example, at decision point 324, if reader 17 detects bothidentification component 15A and 15B, the software subsystem 47 mayidentify a first characteristic of the nutritional liquid associatedwith the feeding set 5. If the reader 17 detects only identificationcomponent 15B, the software subsystem 47 may identify a secondcharacteristic of the nutritional liquid different from the firstcharacteristic. If the reader 17 detects only identification component15A, the software subsystem 47 may identify a third characteristic ofthe nutritional liquid different from the first and secondcharacteristics. Any number of identification components and readerdevices may be used to identify any number of characteristics of anutritional liquid associated with the feeding set 5. Other types ofidentification members can be used, including without limitation,members of differing shapes and emitting different electromagneticsignals.

Once software subsystem 47 identifies the at least one characteristic ofthe nutritional liquid associated with the feeding set 5 loaded to thepump 1, the microprocessor 49 may adjust the flow rate of the pump 1 toachieve a target feeding rate specific to the feeding set 5 loaded tothe pump and the nutritional liquid associated with the feeding set.Thus, software subsystem 47 is able to not only detect that the feedingset 5 is loaded, but also determine and implement nutritional liquiddata to automatically control fluid flow through the feeding set uponloading the feeding set to the pump 1.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the memory 51 can store a set ofinstructions 53 for determining a flow rate for the pump 1 based on theat least one characteristic of the nutritional liquid represented byidentification components 15 and retrieved by the microprocessor 49. Inorder to control the flow rate of the pump 1, at 326, the microprocessor49 retrieves from the memory 51 the set of instructions 53 forimplementing the information data represented by the identificationcomponents 15. At 328, the microprocessor 49 may apply the data to theset of instruction in the memory 51 to determine a flow rate of the pump1. At 330, the microprocessor 49 may adjust the motor output to producethe flow rate determined at 328 to achieve a target-feeding rate. Forexample, by knowing the viscosity of the nutritional liquid the amountof rotation may be altered to assure the correct quantity of nutritionalliquid is delivered.

Upon determining the operating flow rate, at 332, the microprocessor 49can send instructions to monitor the pumping parameters andintermittently, continuously, or continually adjust the instantaneousoperating flow rate for the pump 1 to achieve the target-feeding rate.The microprocessor 49 may keep track of the volume of feeding fluiddelivered to the patient, and the number of calories delivered to thepatient. Other feeding parameters, such as but not limited to elapsedtime, remaining time, and fat content delivered, may also be monitoredand optionally displayed through, for example, the user interface 19.Compliance monitoring can be performed by comparing the monitoredpumping parameters (e.g., volume of fluid delivered, number of caloriesdelivered, etc.) to target pumping parameters to assess whether thetarget pumping parameters are being met and/or a prescribed treatmentregimen is being followed. Results of the compliance monitoring can bestored in the memory 51 for review by the clinician. The data can alsobe stored in the memory 51 for wireless data mining, service modules,and/or asset tracking purposes.

It is to be understood that in the described embodiment, the softwaresubsystem 47, the microprocessor 49 and memory 51 may be broadlyconsidered “a control circuit.” These components may be individuallyconsidered “a control circuit.” Moreover, other types of controlcircuits may be used within the scope of the present invention.

The memory 51 can comprise one or more non-volatile memory components,e.g., ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory. In otherconfigurations, other types of non-volatile memory components can beutilized in addition to or instead of the non-volatile memory componentssuch as but not limited to removable or portable data storage devices,such as hard disk drives, optical disk, magnetic tape, holographicmemory, and memory cards. Alternatively or in addition, memory 51 cancomprise one or more volatile memory components such as but not limitedto random access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), andstatic random access memory (SRAM).

Embodiments of the invention may be described in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed byone or more computers or other devices. The computer-executableinstructions may be organized into one or more computer-executablecomponents or modules including, but not limited to, routines, programs,objects, components, and data structures that perform particular tasksor implement particular abstract data types. Aspects of the inventionmay be implemented with any number and organization of such componentsor modules. For example, aspects of the invention are not limited to thespecific computer-executable instructions or the specific components ormodules illustrated in the figures and described herein. Otherembodiments of the invention may include different computer-executableinstructions or components having more or less functionality thanillustrated and described.

Further, the order of execution or performance of the operations inembodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein is notessential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations may beperformed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and embodiments ofthe invention may include additional or fewer operations than thosedisclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that executing orperforming a particular operation before, contemporaneously with, orafter another operation is within the scope of aspects of the invention.

In operation, the microprocessor 49 executes computer-executableinstructions such as those illustrated in the figures to implementaspects of the invention. Aspects of the invention may also be practicedin distributed computing environments where tasks are performed byremote processing devices linked through a communications network. In adistributed computing environment, program modules may be located inboth local and remote computer storage media including memory storagedevices.

Further aspects of the invention can pertain to methods related tofacilitating use of enteral feeding pumps. For example, the method cancomprise, in accordance with one or more embodiments, providing aconduit assembly including tubing fluidly connectable to a containerwherein the tubing can be adapted for mounting on the enteral feedingpump to provide a fluid pathway for delivering nutritional liquid fromthe container to a patient when the tubing; and providing anidentification member associated with the conduit assembly, which can bemountable on the conduit assembly, having information regarding at leastone characteristic of a nutritional liquid associable with the feedingset. In some cases, the method can involve positioning theidentification member on the conduit assembly so as to permitacquisition of the information and identification by the enteral feedingpump of the at least one characteristic of the nutritional liquid uponmounting the conduit assembly on the enteral feeding pump.

Still further aspects can pertain to revising the library or at least aportion of the stored information of the library of formula. Forexample, the enteral feed pump can have at least one user interface thatcan be utilized to enter or update the library information. In somecases, the enteral feeding pump can have a data port that can facilitatedata transfer from an external device to the memory device in the pumpthat stores the library information. For example, the enteral feedingpump can have a USB port configured through the controller to transferdata from an external device to replace at least a portion of the memoryof the pump. An alternative configuration can involve utilizing wiredEthernet local area networks based on, for example, the IEEE 802.3standard to effect the transfer. In still other cases, the enteralfeeding pump can be in wireless communication with a remote devicehaving updated library information. In such an exemplary architecture,data transfer from the remote device can be effected through wirelesscommunication in accordance with any commercially utilized protocolssuch as but not limited to any one or more of cellular data transmissionand wireless radio such as Wi-Fi based on any of the IEEE 802.11standards. Preferable configurations can further involve transmitting,wired or wirelessly at least a portion of the library in encrypted form.Such aspects can be particularly advantageous when utilized to tailorthe feeding rate based on the fluid to be delivered and patient or userneeds. For example, a particular predetermined delivery protocol may beimplemented for a patient and updated upon the discretion of a caregiverfrom a remote facility or location. Thus, such a feature canadvantageously further assure or at least increase the likelihood ofutilizing a predetermined delivery protocol with a nutritional liquid.

Further embodiments may implemented to utilize a remote facility toprovide the predetermined protocol. For example, in a feeding pumpconnected to the remote facility, the pump may identify therepresentation of the nutritional liquid and transmit such informationto the remote facility. In response, the remote facility may thenreceive the representation information and establish a predetermineddelivery protocol from a database, and transmit a predetermined deliveryprotocol to achieve one or more treatment targets based, at leastpartially, on the received representation information.

Other operations may be implemented including, for example, identifyingthe frequency of nutritional liquid delivery, the amount of nutritionalliquid delivered, and the type of nutritional liquid delivered, which,in turn, can facilitate any one or more of asset tracking, e.g.,determining whether a patient has used or consumed a sufficient amountof nutritional liquid, or type of nutritional liquid, whether thepatient has any of such nutritional liquid remaining, or type ofnutritional liquid remaining, and whether the patient requiresadditional nutritional liquid at the patient's location.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferredembodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” areintended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms“comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive andmean that there may be additional elements other than the listedelements.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methodswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description and shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for operating an enteral feeding pump todeliver fluid through a pump set, the method comprising: adjustingoperation of a pumping device of the enteral feeding pump based on acharacteristic of the fluid determined by a control circuit thatreceived sensor signals from a sensor positioned to sense informationfrom the pump set, whereby the adjusted operation modifies the operationof the pumping device to contact the pump set to deliver fluid throughthe pump set; and determining with the control circuit a characteristicof the fluid based on the sensor signals; wherein determining thecharacteristic of the fluid comprises determining at least one of brandof a nutritional liquid and brand name of the nutritional liquid.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein adjusting operation of the pumping devicecomprises adjusting a flow rate of the pumping device to achieve atarget flow rate specific to the fluid delivered through the pump set.3. The method of claim 2, wherein adjusting the flow rate comprisesadjusting a motor output of the pumping device to achieve the targetflow rate.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the received sensor signalscomprise reading an identification member associated with the pump set.5. The method of claim 4 wherein reading the identification membercomprises detecting a configuration of magnets on the pump set.
 6. Themethod of claim 1 wherein determining the characteristic of the fluidcomprises determining a viscosity of the fluid.
 7. The method of claim 1wherein determining the characteristic of the fluid comprisesdetermining at least one of: viscosity, osmolality, digestibility,caloric content, protein content, sugar content, fat content,cholesterol content, fiber content, free water content, carbohydratecontent, cholesterol content, amino acid content, vitamin content,mineral content, nitrogen content, sodium content, potassium content,chloride content, calcium content, magnesium content, and electrolytecontent of the fluid.
 8. The method of claim 7 further comprisingdetermining with the control circuit based on the sensor signals atleast one of brand of a nutritional liquid, brand name of thenutritional liquid, and nutritional liquid type.
 9. The method of claim8 further comprising determining with the control circuit based on thesensor signals at least one of caloric intake requirement, fat intakerequirement, protein intake requirement, mineral intake requirement,vitamin intake requirement and a patient group for a patient receivingnutritional liquid.
 10. The method of claim 1 further comprisingdetermining with the control circuit based on the sensor signals atleast one of brand of a nutritional liquid, brand name of thenutritional liquid, and nutritional liquid type.
 11. The method of claim1 further comprising determining with the control circuit based on thesensor signals at least one of caloric intake requirement, fat intakerequirement, protein intake requirement, mineral intake requirement,vitamin intake requirement and a patient group for a patient receivingnutritional liquid.